Attention sports fans! When it’s time to decide where you’ll practice, it’s fair game to weigh which cities can cater to your sports-loving heart. In the Midwest, Detroit and Kansas City are worth considering. In the southeastern part of the country, there’s Morgantown, West Virginia, and Miami. Each has numerous opportunities for physicians and plenty of teams to cheer on when you’re off the clock, and these cities will help guide the path for those practicing medicine in sports towns.

Detroit, Michigan

LONG KNOWN AS THE AUTOMOBILE CAPITAL OF the world and famed for its legendary Motown sound, Detroit is also a sports lover’s oasis. Home to the NFL Lions, MlB Tigers, NHL Red Wings, NBA Pistons and the USL Detroit City FC, there is no shortage of professional sports to keep you entertained throughout the year. Collegiate sports are even more numerous. For when you prefer to do more than just watch sports, the area has dozens of local and state parks and recreation areas for swimming, boating, biking and hiking, as well as 340,000 acres of state wildlife and game areas, mostof which allow hunting, fishing or bird watching.

The athletic scene is vibrant and booming, as is the city, which has experienced major revitalization over the last decade. That resurgence and economic upswing, coupled with rich culture and history, make Detroit a great city to live in, says Ikenna Okereke, M.D.

Okereke and his family moved to Detroit from Nigeria when he was 1 year old. He said the city embraced his family and gave them new opportunities. When deciding what professional path he would take, Okereke chose medicine as a way to give back.

Okereke earned his undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University and attended medical school at Washington University in St. Louis. He went on to complete residency at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

Today, Okereke is a cardiothoracic surgeon at Henry Ford Health in Detroit, as well as vice chairman of the department of surgery, director of thoracic surgery and program director for the cardiothoracic surgery fellowship.

He also runs a high school mentorship program that brings about 300 students through the year to Henry Ford Hospital for hands-on experiences performing surgical simulations and other mock procedures. Additionally, several of the students are selected for paid summer internships.

Community engagement is something Okereke values deeply, and while there’s always more work to be done, he says Henry Ford Health has gone out of its way to reach out and support the local community, especially underrepresented populations.

The Henry Ford Health system consists of five acute care hospitals and 46 medical centers throughout southeast and southcentral Michigan. Henry Ford Hospital in downtown Detroit is an 877-bed Level I trauma center noted for clinical excellence in cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics and sports medicine, transplants and cancer treatment. They’ve just broken ground on a $3 billion project to expand the hospital campus. The expansion is part of their Future of Health initiative and will include a new hospital facility, a research center in partnership with Michigan State University and, within that, a neurofibromatosis research institute.

Also on the horizon is a proposed joint venture with Ascension Michigan, which would increase its capacity to 12 acute care hospitals, two behavioral health hospitals and 550 sites of care.

Henry Ford Health employs nearly 6,000 physicians and researchers. As the system expands, those numbers will increase. New opportunities, potential for growth and continuous efforts to advance are just some of what make Henry Ford Health a great place to practice.

“Henry Ford is one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers and is recognized for its clinical excellence,” says Ken Adams, director of physician recruitment for Henry Ford Health. “Physicians who join Henry Ford will experience a diverse patient population and workforce. They will also find an organization committed to research and innovation. Because of the depth and breadth of opportunities available at Henry Ford, physicians can pursue boundless career paths tailored to their training, interests and talents.”

With its revitalization, vibrant music, arts and sports offerings, plus numerous opportunities for a fulfilling profession, Detroit is an excellent place for physicians to live and practice.

Henry Ford Health is currently recruiting for neurology, oncology, dermatology, GI, behavioral health, ENT ophthalmology and research.

Miami, Florida

A SPORTS HAVEN WITH seven miles of cocoa- colored sandy beaches, Miami could be the city for you With Dolphins football, Heat basketball, Marlins baseball, Panthers hockey and Miami FC soccer, there are professional sporting events year-round. Plus, the University of Miami, Florida International University and other area colleges provide a wide variety of collegiate sports at your fingertips.

For the hands-on, there are batting cages, NBA-approved indoor courts, recreational sports leagues, hockey and ice-skating lessons, luxury race car speedways, beach volleyball and water sports. Miami has something for every sports lover.

To just relax and unwind, Miami has 16 beaches, at least 77 night clubs and lounges and a diverse food scene. You can also enjoy music festivals, museums and any of Miami’s 13 stunning botanical gardens.

Of course, the feeling you’ll experience in Miami makes it an attractive place to live as well.

“There’s the actual warmth which is lovely, but there’s a warmth of person and character in Miami,” says Katharine C. Button, M.D. “There’s a kindness and brightness in engagement that is palpable in the city.”

Having lived most of her life north of Washington, D.C., the climate of the Magic City has been an adjustment for Button, but she says she loves Miami and all that it has to offer.

Button moved to southern Florida at the end of 2022 for a new professional opportunity. A new city and a new role may be a lot to take on at once for some, but Button is well acquainted with change.

Growing up, she volunteered in hospitals, which she says she really enjoyed. After majoring in French and becoming a trader on Wall Street, Button ultimately returned to medicine. She went back to school for nursing and then worked as a pediatric intensive care unit nurse.

“Being a pediatric ICU nurse was unbelievably fulfilling, but I spent a lot of time trying to figure out why we did what we did, so I said, ‘I want to take it one step further and go to med school,’” she says. “I never looked back from there.”

Button earned her medical degree from Sidney Kimmel Medical College and then completed a residency in pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia where she stayed on for an additional two years working in both pediatric critical care and in the urgent care division of the emergency department. She then pursued a fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Button now serves as vice president and chief medical officer of Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Specialists, a multispecialty medical group practice of Nicklaus Children’s Health System (NCHS).

In her role, she works closely with all division chiefs to help improve, grow and plan in their respective divisions, and she works alongside the chief operating officer to strategize the operations of the divisions.

Maintaining her board certification as a pediatric emergency medicine specialist, Button also continues to provide care to patients in the Emergency Department at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, which is one of the busiest in the country.

NCHS is also the parent organization of an ambulatory surgery center, a network of 28 outpatient centers in four counties and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, south Florida’s only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children. It has 307 beds, and the emergency department has nearly 100,000 visits each year.

There are 850 attending physicians at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, including more than 500 pediatric subspecialists providing care for more than 40 pediatric specialties.

Since 2008, numerous Nicklaus Children’s specialty programs have been annually ranked among the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report. The hospital was named a top children’s hospital in 2023 by The Leapfrog Group and more accolades.


“People go out of their way to help each other,” Button says. “It’s a family here, and it’s a roll-up-your- sleeves, get-stuff-done healthcare system with focus on putting the patient and their families first. I think there’s a lot of talk of that, but Nicklaus really embodies it.”

Evidence of the workplace culture is in how many residents ultimately call Nicklaus Children’s Hospital home after their training.

“We have the largest pediatric residency training program in the southeast, and so many physicians who completed their pediatric residency or fellowships here join us as attendings once they graduate,” says Suzanne Beckmann, marketing lead with Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Specialists. “That’s a real testament to the community feel here.”

With its exceptional patient care, top-notch facilities and noteworthy workplace culture, it’s no wonder physicians like Button feel so fulfilled.

“I get to do what I love in caring for the kids. It’s a place where people work hard, get the job done, help each other out, and then also find room to laugh,” Button says.

NCHS is currently recruiting for adolescent medicine, allergy and immunology, anesthesiology, pediatric and congenital heart surgery, pediatric emergency medicine, clinical genetics and metabolism, child neurology, epileptologist, neurosurgery, palliative care, psychology and radiology.

Morgantown, West Virginia

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A smaller city that has a vibrant sports scene with a passionate fan base, look no further than Morgantown, in north central West Virginia.

Home to West Virginia University, residents truly bleed blue and gold with pride for the WVU Mountaineers. Cheer alongside diehard fans at the 60,000-seat Milan Puskar Stadium or the $21 million Monongalia County Ballpark.

There’s also WVU Coliseum for men’s and women’s basketball, men’s wrestling, women’s volleyball and other sports.

In 1984, WVU alumna Georgeann Wells was the first American woman to register a dunk in an official NCAA basketball game. As expected of a Big 12 university, WVu also has competitive swimming, diving and gymnastics.

For professional sports, Pittsburgh, which is just over an hour north, has the MlB Pirates, NFL Steelers, NHL Penguins and the USL Riverhounds.

Passion for the university (and its sports) contributes to Morgantown’s distinct atmosphere that attracts and keeps so many people in the area— people like Kristin Black, D.O.

Originally from southern West Virginia, Black attended WVU as an undergrad, then went to medical school at West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed residency at United Hospital Center in Bridgeport, West Virginia — just about 40 minutes from Morgantown — then moved back to Morgantown in 2019.

“My husband and I decided to stay because of the great work opportunities, culture of Morgantown, the growth of the area and being close to some of our great friends,” Black says.

Today, Black is a physician at one of WVu Medicine’s clinics, Cranberry Square, and also WVU Urgent Care.

WVU Medicine is the state’s largest health system and is comprised of 23 hospitals in West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania; five institutes; and multiple clinics and urgent care centers. The system has 2,500 beds and 4,900 providers.

In 2023, Forbes recognized WVu Medicine on its America’s Best Employers for Women list, and it was the only health system in the state and region to be named to the Becker’s Healthcare Top Places to Work in Healthcare list.

WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital also has received recognition from U.S. News & World Report for its pediatric urology program for six consecutive years. WVU Medicine has received many awards from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association as well, among other recognitions.

The West Virginia University Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) has received worldwide attention in recent months for several noteworthy advancements including launching a first-in-the-world clinical trial that has unlocked new potential for treating Alzheimer’s and more.

The sky’s the limit for physicians practicing with WVu Medicine, and there are plenty of resources and support to further your professional goals and provide exceptional patient care.

“It is wonderful to be able to practice in the most medically resource-rich area and in academic medicine,” Black says. “There isn’t a shortage of resources or specialists that you can reach out to help guide your patient’s care when you get a tough case or need to advocate for your patient. …Being surrounded by such intelligent people, it helps you to strive to be better for your patients and constantly grow.”

Black says there are numerous benefits of practicing at WVU Medicine, including access to Epic EMR and significant education opportunities for your children.

“A wonderful benefit of WVU Medicine is the ability to send your children to WVU tuition-free if you have given the system five years or more of service,” Black says. “I went to undergrad here, so to offer that same opportunity to my two children is a pretty cool thing.”

Black says living and practicing in Morgantown is also special because she can do things with her family like attend basketball and football games at her alma mater, while also enjoying the many other things the city has to offer.

If you’re ready to plant roots in a small city that buzzes with excitement on gameday and has endless opportunities for physicians, consider Morgantown, West Virginia.

WVU Medicine is currently recruiting for neurology, general and pediatric anesthesiology, pulmonary, hospitalists, ophthalmology, immunology, family medicine, radiology, obstetrics and gynecology, nephrology, thoracic, cardiothoracic and vascular surgery, pediatric gastroenterology, dermatology and urology.

Kansas City, Missouri

HOME TO THE 2024 SUPER Bowl champions, Kansas City is certainly a great city for sports enthusiasts to live and practice. In addition to the NFL Chiefs, there’s USL Sporting Kansas City, NASCAR’s Kansas Speedway and the MLB Royals. For collegiate sports, the Big 12 women’s and men’s basketball championship returns to Kansas City each spring. Fans root for the University of Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos (commonly called Roos) in basketball, softball, tennis, volleyball and more.

There are also plenty of opportunities to relax in the City of Fountains, such as visiting any of its 48 picturesque fountains or eight museums, including the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Kansas City is also known for its own style of jazz and blues music, as well as slow- smoked BBQ with a sweet molasses and brown sugar sauce.

This city with something for everyone also has a strong history of providing great care to pediatric patients.

Since 1897 when it only had one bed, Children’s Mercy has prioritized the wellbeing of children.

Now, there are nearly 9,000 employees and close to 800 pediatric specialists on medical staff and 600 medical students in their residency programs each year.

The 390-bed hospital is one of only 30 centers in the nation to be verified as a Level I Children’s Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons and is the only ACS-verified pediatric Level I trauma center between St. Louis and Denver. Between emergency care and specialty care clinics, Children’s Mercy received nearly 600,000 visits in 2023.

Rob Dinneen, senior physician and faculty recruiter, has been with Children’s Mercy for two years.

“I enjoy working with our talented and experienced physician recruitment team,” he says. “I enjoy working with our dedicated physicians and faculty, who live our vision every day of creating a world of wellbeing for children. I enjoy the patient/family-first culture, and I am proud to recruit for a nationally recognized children’s hospital.”

Dinneen says physicians enjoy living and practicing there because of that culture as well as the dedication to kids and the opportunities to mix clinical, research and educational interests.

Those are some of the aspects that Melissa Sullivan, M.D., also says make Children’s Mercy a great place to work. She also says the relationships with colleagues is an especially valuable attribute.

“No matter the role, people who work here are helping to make kids healthier and provide them with the appropriate care,” she says.

Sullivan is a clinical geneticist who started practicing at Children’s Mercy in 2019.

Sullivan was always interested in science, but grew interested in the medical field when her dad was diagnosed with leukemia when she was 14.

“He needed specialized treatment and was treated at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston. That whole time was a whirlwind experience,” she says. “I was particularly upset after visiting my dad, and his oncologist spent time with my mom and me explaining the disease and the treatment. He drew pictures and diagrams, which I still have to this day. The time spent was so meaningful for me and helped me adjust to this terrible experience. Now that I think about it, I realize how much this experienceshaped the way I practice.”

Sullivan chose genetics specifically because she found diseases fascinating and enjoyed solving the puzzles of patient’s health and providing more tailored carebased on a genetic diagnosis.

The work isn’t just satisfying—the environment is fulfilling as well. Children’s Mercy regularly receives recognition as a top place to work. Children’s Mercy received Joy in Medicine recognition from the American Medical Association, which recognizes a commitment to preserving the wellbeing of team members and combating stress and burnout.

It was also named to Newsweek’s following lists in 2023: America’s Greatest Workplaces; America’s Greatest Workplaces for Parents and Families; America’s GreatestWorkplaces for Diversity; and America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women, among several other notable awards.

Children’s Mercy is currently recruiting for fetal surgery, pediatric emergency medicine, pediatric neurology, pediatric cardiology, psychiatry/psychology and general pediatrics.